Rotary engine.



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HAYDEE.

ROTARY ENGNE.

MJPLIUATION FILED om?, 1912.

Patented July 28, 1914.

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@Vi/immun R. B. HAYDEN.

ROTARY ENGINE.

APPLIOATIOH FILED coin?, 1912.

Patented July 28, 191i B SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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RTARY ENGINE.

- i `APPLICATION FILED 001.7, 1912. v- 1,105,076,` n l Patented July 28,1914.

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ROBERT n. HAYDEN, crsroKANn, WASHINGTON.

ROTARY ENGINE.

Specification of Letters Patent. i Patented u'ly 28, 19141.

Application filed October 7, 1912-. Serial No. 724,368.

driving medium to drive said rotor and transmit Apower to the main shaft upon which said rotor is mounted. The primary object of the invention is to provide in an engine of the above type, means whereby frictional resistance is reduced to a minimum thus insuring aihigh degree of efficiency in the operation of the engine and obtaining a maximum of working energy from a minimum consumption of the gas, steam or other impelling iiuid.

Another object of the invention is to provide a rotary engine particularly designed for use upon motor vehicles and improved starting means for the engine whereby the objec tionable cranking of the same to effect the initial operation of the engine is eliminated. A more specific `object of the invention resides in the provision of a. rotor provided with a plurality of radially movable blades, and means carried by said blades coacting with a. cam surface to move said blades out of contact with the wheel of the engine cyl- .indenfthrough substantially one half of the rotation of the rotor, whereby frictional lresistance to such rotation is minimized.

f Still another object of the Airiventio'n is to generally improve internal combustion engmesof the rotary type and toprovide a .l lcomparatively simple and compact arrangement of the various parts whereby the vibra`- tion is reduced to a minimum and an extremely durable structure produced, which result in the development lof a high degree of eiiciency in the operation vof an engine of this character. l y

With the above and'other 'objects inview l as will become appa nt asthe description proceeds, vthe inventioiiconsists in certain constructions. con

`ations and arrangements` of the parts that I shall hereinafter fully describe and claim.

For a full understanding of the invention reference is to be Ihad to the following description and accompanying drawings, in

. which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of an engine V. "^1Jlng the present invention; Fig. 2 is atop plan view partly in section; Fig.` 3 is an end elevation, certain parts being broken awayand others shown in section to more clearly illustrate the construction and ar. rangement 'of the elements; Fig. l is a section taken on the line-4&4 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the intake head removed from the engine cylinder; Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectionl taken on the line @v6 of Fig. 3 to illustrate the mounting of the propelling blades in the rotor; Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the rotor, the blades being removed therefrom; Fig. 8 is an end elevation of the rotor; Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail section of-a fragment of the intake head,

showing the mounting of the foot valve; lFig. 10 is an end elevation of one of the heads of the rotor cylinder and the cam track; Fig. 11 is an end elevation of one of the movable rotor blades-and Fig. 12 is a detail side elevation of the-removable plate mounted in the wall of the engine cylinder.

Gorrespondingand like par'tsare referred to in the following description and designated in the accompanying drawings by like reference characters.

Referring in detail to the drawings 5 designates a base or bed of any suitable form which is' preferably mounted and secured upon a` foundation of masonry. or other construction in the usual manner. Upon this bed frame` the various arts of the engine structure to be hereina er referred to are supported.

The power shaft is mounted in suitable bearings'l secured upon the bed frame 5 and upon one end of this Shaft the ily. wheel 8 is keyed. y

The engine proper includes the cylinder 115, said c lin-der consisting of the cylindrical body 'providedin `its Wall with a water chamber-116. The ends of the body of the cylinder are provided'with stud bolts 117 whichA vare adapted to'project through open,

provided in the annular end plates 118, i

ings surta.

le nuts 119 being threaded upon said bolts to rigidly secure the plates against the body of the cylinder. The body Vof the cyl- .inder is centrally provided with an inwardly projecting annular rib 120 said rib being of 5 substantially U shaped form to provide a water receiving channelfwhich is in communication with the chamber 116 of the body of the cylinder. This annular' rib divides the interior of the cylinder into two chambers in each of which a rotor section 1'21 is located. As these sections are identical in construction, the detail description of one will Suffice for both. The hub 122 of the rotor is keyed or splined upon the power shaft 6 and is connected by means of the radially disposed arms 123 with the annular body lwall 124 of the rotor. This annular body Wall is provided adjacent to each of .the radial arms with a longitudinally eX- 2b tending pocket 125. These pockets are preferably of semi-cylindrical shape in cr'oss section, though it willV be understood that they canbe rectangular or of any other desired cross sectional form. The arms 123 of the rotor are longitudinally slotted as shown at `126 in a similar manner to the arms of the 'compressor drum. These arms are V increased in width and extended longitudi-l nally of the rotor at their outer lends as 3o shown at 127.

In the slots 126 of the arms of the rotor theV blades 128 are mounted and are adapted' for longitudinal movement. The outer ends of these blades which are of similar form to the outer ends of the rotor arms extend the entire length of the rotor lsection and are provided with the anges 129 for engagement with the inner Wall of the'cyll inder body. The blades 128 are normally' 40 forced outwardly and' held in engagement with the cylinder Wall by means of the coil springs 130 arranged-in the cylindrical bores 131 of said blades and engaging at their inner ends in sockets provided in the hub of the rotor. The rotor hub is also provided at diametrically opposite points, with cavities 132. YIn one of the'walls of the slots or guide ways'126 of the rotor arms, grooves 133 extending longitudinally of the rotor are provided to receive the packing strips 134. Recesses 135 are also provided in the annular wall of the rotor in which coil 'springs 136 are arranged to bear against- 'the packing strips 134 and force the same into engagement with the radially movable arms. Packing strips 137 are also arranged in grooves provided in the end edges of the arms and are adapted to be forced outwardly by means of the coil springs `138, into engagementwwith the annular plate 118 and 4the rib 120respectively, of the cylinder. vThese strips are provided with the flanges l140 at their inner ends to prevent their ra- .,dial movement upon the-blades.

(i5 It will be observed from reference to Fig.

coupling member.

3 that the annular wall of-the rot-cris disposed in spaced concentric relation to the wall of the engine cylinder and the blades 128 are normally engaged with the cylinder wall at their outer ends. In order to reduce the frictional resistance to a minimum, I provide means for moving the blades inwardly and holding the same out of contact with the cylinder wall through substantially one half of the revolution of the rotor. This means emhodiesa spider 11i-1 which is preferably formed integrally with the end plate 118 of the cylinder. This spider includes the arms 142 and a track 143 integrally formed upon the inner ends of said arms. This track is eccentrically disposed with relation to the power shaft 6 and at one end is provided with aV cam portion 144, the purpose of which will be more clearly understood as the description proceeds. Upon the inner ends of the ra dially .movable blades 128, the rollers 145 are rotatably mounted. These rollers are adapted to engage the inner 'edge of the eccentrically disposed track 143,-whereby the blades 128 will be gradually forced inwardly in the rotation of the rotor, said rollers being received in t-he cavities 132 of the hub of the rotor.

The body of the cylinder is longitudinally cut away to receive a head block generally indicated by the numeral 146 which is rigidly bolted or otherwise secured to the spaced edges of the cylinder body. This head block is provided with a tubular eX- teriorly threaded extension 147 to receive a coupling or union 148 whereby said head block is connected to the supply pipe 114 of the tank 72,l said pipe being provided with a ange 114. for engagement, by the The head block 146 is also provided with a main passage 149 extending longitudinally therethrough and having its inner end curved and opening upon the inner end o-said head block with which the periphery of the annular body wall of the rotor is adapted to closely engage. This head block is also provided with a bypass 150 which is provided with branches 150 which open at their lower ends upon the-curved end face 151 of the head block 146, to supply the gaseous mixture directly to each of the cylinder chambers, immediately in advance of the point of contact between the inner surface of the head block atfone end and the rotor. It will be observed that the curve of the face 151 of the block is quitegradual so as to permit of a comparatively slow iouiward movement of the blades of the rotor under pressure of the springs 130 into contact with the cylinder wall. .Communication is only obtained between the by-pass 150 and' the interior of the cylinder when the engine is started, the gaseous mixture being siipplied. L

in the normal operation of the engine to the pockets The supply of combustible viiuid may be admitted directly to the cylinder through the inediurn oi' a valve 152 longitudinally movable in a cylindrical bore 153 extending at right angles to the bypass 150 and opening at one end into a chamber 155 provided in a cylindrical ex.- tension 154 formed upon the head block 146. The valve member '152 is provided intermediate of its ends with a diametrically yreduced' portion 156 forming an annular chamber between said reduced portion and the Wall of the bore 153. A spring 157 is arranged upon thervalve stern in, the chain# ber .155 and bears against the lower end Wall -o:t'.the chamber and against a flange 158 formed upon the valve stem.. The outer end4 of the valve stein is provided with suitable foot plate 159 whereby the valve may be forced inwardly against the tension of'lthe spring 157 to dispose the reduced portion G thereof in line with the bypass of the spark plugs ybatteries through the wires 161..

vannular grooves 162 to receive the packing rings'l. The annular ange 164; between the grooves 162 is' o slightly less diameter than the rotor and is held out of contact with the peripheral 'face or" the ib 12d on the cylinder wall by nie-ans of the packing rings which frictionally engage said Urib. These rings carry studs 165i to be received in the recesses or notches 156 in the edge of i the flange 164s. The blades 128 in one of the rotor sections are disposed intermediate of the plane ci the blades on the Aother rotor section longitudinally of the engine cylinder, so that said blades on the respective cylinders are alternately subjected to the impact of the exploded gases, whereby a high speed is maintained in the operation of the engine, and a maximum of Working eiiiciency secured. i

After the charge has been eiploded and the expansive pressure thcrboil against the rotor blades has practically entirely expended its force in the rotation oi the rotor, burned. gas is exhausted through the ports 167 into an exhaust pipe 168 which iii-ay be inte1 gra-lly cast upon the cylindf"` vali or secured thereto in any pr' rred mannen A pipe 169 is also connected to the engine with thc.

cylinder and receives the hot Water from the chamber 116 thereof to return the saine to the radiator Where it isagain cooled and returned through the vpipe 18 to said cylinder cham.ber.`

ln order to prevent the escape of the burned gases around the ends of the rotor, the end plates 118 of the cylinder are provided withl annular grooves 170Y to receive the packing rings 171 which are of similar constructionto the packing rings in the ends of the compressor cylinder, said packing rings 171 having studs 172 to engage in the recesses 173, lin the inner wall of the groove 170. rlhe end plates 118 are also provided with tubular bosses 174 in which the coil springs 175 are arranged to bear against the packing rings and 'force the same into close frictional contact With the ends oi the rotor.

The head block 146 is provided With a groove or recess 176 to receive the annular rib of the engine cylinder. The head block isalso provided .with packing strips 177 which are'rorced into frictional contact piiery of the rotor by means of the springs 178. The supply ot compressed gas to the cylinder ci' theengine may be controlled by the operator through-the medium of a throttle valve 179, said valve being in the form of a cylindrical rod which is mounted to rotate in thehead block and is provided with a slot 18,0 to register with the main passage 1419. This valve rod is provided upon one end with a crank arm 181 to which rod is adapted to be connected, said rod extending to a control lever arranged adjacent to the operators seat, when the engine is used for the propulsion of vehicles.

By providing the radially movable blades and means for maintaining the saine out of contact with the cylinder wall through a part o t the rotation of the rotor, the accuxnulation of carbon upon the movable blades is practically eliminated, the lcarbon accumulating in the pockets y of the rotor from which it may be readily removed. For this purpose I provide zuplate 182 which is adapted to be arranged in a longitifidinal opening 183 provided in the body ,wail oit the engine cylinder and is securely held in position by means of the threaded bolt 184 which is adapted to be received in a threaded recess or socket provided in the annular rib 12() formed on the cylinder Wall.' The outer end of this bolt is provided with a ico minimized, thus conducing to the smooth running ot' the engine and enhancing the durability of the movable elements. It is of course understood that suitable oil cups are provided for the bearings of the main power shaft 6 and such other accessories as are commonly known in the art will also of course be adopted in the practical embodr ment ot the invention.

ln starting the operation of the engine thc throttle valve is first opened. The operator now pressesdownwardly uponthe foot valve 152, thus permittingthe compressed gas to enter directly into the engine cylinder. The foot valve is then released and the electric current supplied to the spark plugs by closing a switch in the battery circuit. It

is essential that the foot valve be released before the charge is ignited in order that liability of the occurrence of an explosion in the compression tank shall be eliminated. The closure of the foot valve before the ignition of the charge closes the bypass 15() in the head block, thereby cutting oil the communication between the compression tank and the explosion chamber in the engine cylinder. This gas entering the cylin-' der will lill the space between the curved end face 151 of the head block and the end ofl the plate 128 which is disposed adjacent to said curved face and upon the opposite side of the spark plug 160. The gas being ignited by the spark expands and acts against the face of the blade 128, the pressure of the gas against the .blade being'- suiiicicntly powerful to rotate the rotor through one half of a complete revolution. By arranging the rotor blades in one of the cylinder chambers, in planes intermediate of the planes of the blades in the other-oi` said chambers, one of the blades will be in position at the start of the operation of the engine to receive the impact of theexploded gas. After the engine has been thus started the operator releases pressure upon the stem of the valve 152 so that the gas .will be supplied from the tank 72 by a pipe 114i through they passage 149 to the pockets 125 in the periphery of the rotor. These pockets as they pass the mouth of the passage 149 receive a charge of gas and carry the same to the explosion chamber which is bounded by the curved end` face 151 of the head block, the face of the rotor blade and the periphery of the rotor. As soon as the end of the blade-passes beyond the spark plug in each 177 affording practically an air tight Contact of the head block with the rotor and thus eliminating the liability of the llame reaching the passage 149 and exploding the gas in the same and in the pressure supply tank 72. wWhen the blade which is subjected vto the impact of the exploded charge has completed about one haltl of the possible extent of its movement due to the expansion of the gas, or in other words when said blade -has described an arc of substantially ninety degrees or one quarter of a complete revolution of the rotor, one of the rotor blades in the other chamber of the cylinder is in position to receive the impact of the gas charge which is exploded in said chamber. Thus the operation of the engine may be maintained at a constant high speed, and .iiuctuations in the Working energy of the engine avoided. The expansion ot' the exploded gas continues until it reaches the exhaust port 167, at .which time its pressure is little greater than that of the atmosphere.. vThe cam ortion 144: of the track 143 and the face 151 of the .i

head block 146 are of such curvature as to cause the outer ends of the blades 128 to contact with the curved face of the block as they move past the same. This Contact between the blades and. the block tends to prevent the accumulation of carbon deposit# ed upon the face of the block. The blades will also prevent the escape of gas fron the pockets 125 of the rotor past the end ofthe blade, owing to the fact that said blades are forced by the springs 130 into close engagement with the curved face 151 of the head block 146.

It is to be understood that the invention is not' limited in its practical operation to the use of combustible gas as a driving 'sary to derive from thesame. The invention is also susceptible of a great many minor modifications in the form, proportion and arrangement of the various elements employed without departing from the essential features involved therein or sacrificing any of the advantages accruing to the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

izo

1. lu a rotary engine, a cylinder provided l with an exhaust port, iuid supply means 'for the cylinder. a rotor concentrically mounted in the cylinder, a plurality of spring pressed radially movable blades arranged in the rotor and normally held in frictional enL gagement with the wall of the cylinder, an eccentrically disposed stationary track, and

means carried by the blades to coperate with the track in the rotation of the rotor and move the blades inwardly out'of fric-l tional engagement with `the cylinder walldurng a rotor. l c

2. In a rotar engine, a cylinder having an portion of each revolution of the I exhaust port, uid supply means for the cylinder,a rotorgconcentricallymounted in said cylinder, spiders Secured tothe ends of the cylinder, .eachof Said spiders having an eccentrically rdisposed track surface, and rollers mounted `on'the blades to 'coperate with said eccentric vvtrack surface in the ro tation of the `rotor whereby the blades are moved inwardly out'of contact with the cylinder wall during a portion of each Arevolution of the rotor..

3. In a rotary engine, a cylinder having a j central annular rib dividing the cylinder into two chambers', integrally connected rotor'sections concentrically mounted in said chambers and spaced from the cylinder Wall, a plurality'o-f movable spring pressed blades arranged in each of the rotor sections and normally held in frictional engagement with the wall of the cylinder, the blades in onerotor section being disposed in planes inter.

mediate of the blades inthe other rotor section longitudinally of the cylinder, Huid supply means for the cylinder chambers, each of said chambers having an exhaust port, kand means to move said blades in- '.Wardly and hold the same out of frictional -engagementwith the cylinder wall during a portion of each revolution of the rotor;

4. lIn a rotary engine a cylinder having an I ,exhaust port, a head block mounted in the cylinder wall and extending into the same, one end of the head block being curved and merging into the wall ofthe cylinder, said adjacentthe curved end of the head block,

. between the blades and the cylinder wall,

head=block having a main intake-port, a bypass communicating at one end with said port and opening at its other end upon the curved end face of the block, a valve inf said by-pass, a rotorv concentrically mounted in thegcylinde'r and frictionally engaging the inner face of the -head block tol normally close the mainv intake port, a plurality of radially movable blades mounted in the rotor n and normally held in engagement vwith the cylinder Wall, the periphery of the rotor being provided with gas receivingvpockets adjacent to the blades adapted to receive a charge of gas from the .main intake port, igniting means arranged inthe cylinder Wall and means for moving said. blades inwardly topermit the same to pass beyond the head block, thefends ofl said blades moving upon the curved end face ofthe block and reventing the escape of. gas from the poc ets said blades successively )formingv one wall of the impact of the ignited charge.

' thelfbpplosion chamber to receive the impact 65 the cylinder and rfictionally engaging the head block to close the main intake port, said rotor being provided in its periphery with a plurality of pockets, a plurality of radially movable blades mounted inl the rotor, a spring normally forcing said blades out- 4 wardly into frictional engagement with the cylinder wall, igniting means arranged in the cylinder wall adjacent to the curved end' face of the head block, a stationary eccentric ltrack having a cam portion, and rollers mounted upon the blades to coact with the eccentric track wherebythe blades are inoved inwardly and held out ofcontact with the cylinder wall during a portion of each revo- `Elution of the rotor, said eccentric portion of 'the' track permitting of the outward movementof the blades as they successively pass beyond the intake port of the head block to engage the same with the curved end face of the block and prevent the escape of the gas from the rotor pockets, saidbla-des forming one wall of the explosion chamber to receive 6. In a rotary engine, a cylinder provided -With a central annular rib dii/riding the same into two chambers, a rotor concentrically mounted in gsaid cyli'ndcr, said rotor 105 having two series of radially movable blades y normally engaging the cylinder wall at their outer ends, said cylinder having exhaust ports communicating with the chambers, a head block common toboth chambers of the cylinder mounted in the wall of said cylinderrand projecting into the same, the' pe# 'riphery of the rotor frictionally engaging the inner face of the head block, said head block having a supply port opening intolthe chambers of the cylinder and a bygpass communicating with said port and provided with branch passages opening upon one end of the head block, fsaid rotor normally closing the mainsupply ort, igniting means 120 for each chamber of t e cylinder arranged adjacent to the head block, 4and stationary means coacting with the means 'carried by Lthe movable blades to move,thei`same inwardly out of contact with cylinder 125 wall through a portion of each.i revolution of the' rotor and permit the samef/to'pass said head bloclnsaid rotor being provided incite periphery with pockets' to receive the charge from the main supply port of' the head tional engagementupon the peripheryanf thev rotor, pressure fluid supply means connected to the head block, said block having a main intake port opening upon the inner face of the block which is engaged with the rotor, said block being further provided with a curved end face and a bypass communicating with'the-main intake port and opening upon said end face of the block, a throttle valve mounted in the head block to open and close communication between the cylinder and the source of supply through said main intake port, a spring held valve member mounted in the block and normally closing said supply to the cylinder through the bypass, a plurality of radially movable blades mounted in the rotor normally held in frictional contact with the cylinder wall, means to move said blades inwardly out of contact with the cylinder wall to permit the same to pass the head block, said means admittingr of the outward movement of said blades into sliding contact with the curved end face of the head block as the -blades are projected outwardly into engagement with the wall of the cylinder', said rotor being provided in its periphery with pockets to receive the propelling fluid from the main supply pipe, the opening of said spring held valve in thehead block permitting of the passage of the fluid into the cylinder between the end of the head block and one of the rotor blades whereby the initial starting impulse is obtained.

S. ln a rotary engine, a cylinder provided with an exhaust port, means for supplying fluid under pressure to the cylinder, a rotor concentrically mounted in the cyl- 1nder,la plurality of radially movable blades mounted in the rotor, springs normally act? ing to force said blades o utwardly into frictional contact with the cylinder wall, said rotor having a hub provided in its periphery with spaced cavities, rollers mounted upon. the inner ends of the blades, and an eccentric track within which said rollers are adapted to co erate in the rotation of the rotor to move t e blades inwardly out of Contact with the cylinder wall during substantially one half of each revolution of' the rotor, said rollers being received in the lavities of the rot-or hub at the limit of th inward movement of the blades.

9. In a rotary engine, a cylinder having an exhaust port, fluid supply means for the cylinder, a rotor concentrically mounted in the cylinder, a plurality-ofradially movouter ends 'extending substantially the en tire length ofthe rotor, plates secured to the ends of the body wall of the cylinder,

' spidersintegrally formed on said plates including eccentric track portions and cam portions at the ends of said eccentric track portions, and rollers mounted upon the inner ends of said blades for engagement with said tracks whereby the blades are forced inwardly out of contact with the cylinder' wall-during substantially one halfof each revolution of the rotor, t-he movement of two chambers, a rotor centrally provided' with spaced annular grooves, packing strips arranged in said grooves and engaging the annular' rib on the cylinder wall, two series of radially movable blades mounted in the able spring pressed blades mounted in the i said rollers against the cam portions of' the rotor, springs normally acting to project I said bladesv outwardly into the cylinder chambers and into frictional contact with' the cylinder wall, said rotor being provided in its periphery adjacent to each of theA blades with a pocket extending substantially the entire length of the rotor chamber, means for moving said blades inwardly ont of contact with the cylinder wall during a portion of each revolution of the rotor, end' plates secured to the annular body wall of thevcylinder, spring pressed packing strips arranged 1n the face of said end plates to engage the ends of the rotor, spring pressed packing strips arranged in the rotor engagj l ROBERT B. HAYDEN.

i lVitnesses z L. L. WESTFALL, E. L. VESTFALL, 

